Senator Claire Moore, Labor Senator for Queensland, has announced that the Gillard Government will provide $3.3 million in emergency funding for the Queensland Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (TAAS), a service scrapped by the Newman Government.
The TAAS offers essential advice and advocacy services to tenants across Queensland including West End Community House, providing assistance to 80,000 households annually.
On July 24, all 23 services funded through the TAAS were sent notices of withdrawal of funding by the Newman Government, effective October 31.
“Advocacy and advice services like TAAS help keep Queenslanders in their homes and are critical to preventing homelessness,” Senator Moore said.
“The axing of this important service was just another example of the Newman Government slashing jobs and services at every opportunity with no thought for the people affected or the long-term repercussions.”
“I brought this issue to the attention of the Federal Housing and Homelessness Minister Brendan O’Connor, who quickly sought to correct the potentially disastrous blunder by the Newman Government.
“The Gillard Government is now stepping in to fix Campbell Newman’s mistake by providing $3.3 million in interim funding to keep these services going.”
Without this funding, their doors would be closed by the end of this month.
“These services largely used to be paid for by interest generated on tenants’ bonds, not from State Government revenue,” Senator Moore said.
“The worst part is it could end up costing Queenslanders more because of an increased demand for public housing and crisis accommodation.”
The specifics of the distribution of Commonwealth funds will be determined with the sector and services.
The funding is committed until 30 June 2013. This will give the Federal Government time to ensure the Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Services funding is a condition of future Commonwealth/State agreements.
Queensland’s Minister for Housing and Public Works Bruce Flegg has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision.
“We have said all along that TAAS provided a valuable service and in an ideal world we’d like to see it continue.
“I’d be delighted to see the Federal Government put up the cash to fund this program and the state government would be more than happy to continue to administer it,” Mr Flegg said.
The Queensland Council of Social Services has also welcomed the announcement.
“We are very excited about this funding announcement. The $3.3 million will provide relief for Queenslanders needing to access the services provided by Queensland Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service and will help keep people in their rental properties, preventing increases in homelessness and increasing demand on the public housing system,” says Queensland Council of Social Service CEO Mark Henley.
“We look forward to working with both the state and federal governments to ensure the longevity of this program to maintain needed tenancy advice and support.”
